The Journey (19 page)

“Crimson… bond?”

“My blood.” He gently twisted one of my curls around his finger. “Be ever grateful and do not cause me unnecessary hardships. Understand?”

I slowly nodded.

“Good. Now, show me your blade, Witness Jem. Let me fill your stones with the power you do not possess as a mere mortal.”

“I don’t have it anymore—the blade.” I held up my right hand. “It disappeared when I picked it up.”

Uriel smiled when he saw my glistening thumbnail. “Ah… Of course. The eighth layer has changed much.” He nearly chuckled. “You cannot simply traipse across Earth wielding an archaic weapon, no matter how rare and lovely it may be.”

“No way. It would have been confiscated the first day, probably. Besides, I don’t need your blood right now.” I lifted the familiar old pendant. “Azazel filled the stone right before you brought me here. That’s where I’d been when I popped up at Paltiel’s place and met you—with Azazel. As far as Angel blood goes, I’m full up right now.”

“I see…” He took my hand, examining my thumbnail. “This also explains why you became so close with the Bound One. Your gentle heart, the intimate way you must now extract the needed fuel… No wonder Paltiel was so upset.”

“What do you mean?”

“He summoned me to the Nether because he feared your duty as Witness was at stake… as well as your soul.”

“My
soul
? But I—”

“Yes, I am now in full agreement with the Angel you despise.” Uriel sort of winked at me then. “You, Jem, were definitely in need of some higher guidance.”

“I don’t
despise
Paltiel,” I half mumbled. “Despise is a strong word.”

“Strong, yes, but not incorrect. Now, come.” He tugged on my hand. “Let me lead you to your next intended destination.”

“But… I thought that’s what you just did.”

“We have yet to make it all the way. I wished to speak with you privately… And I did.”

“Oh… Okay.”

He smiled softly. “Now, come.”

*****

I tossed my boots toward the beige-painted wall and blew out a sigh of exhaustion as I collapsed back across the bed.

“Ugh… Drella, you have
no
idea how relieved I was to run across you in Kastraki.”

“It’s Kastoria now.”

“Yeah, Kastoria. What in the world are you doing in Greece?”

“My job, Pooh. You and I travel within pretty much the same circles, you know. All these ancient monasteries—of course I would pass through here. Seeking things, unearthing secrets, finding people… it’s what I do.”

I snorted out a laugh. “Good thing you found me before I climbed all the way up to Megalo Meteoro and made a complete fool outta myself.”

“Yeah. The monasteries around here won’t let you in without proper attire—women
and
men. Those jeans would have been a big fat
No
, Ladybug. That skirt looks nice on you, though.”

I glanced down at the lovely flowing frock we had acquired at a local shop stall. “It’s beautiful, yes, but it definitely doesn’t go with these boots.”

He chuckled. “True… Are you gonna keep it?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s not really
Witnessing
attire. I noticed the monks were passing out some long skirts to inappropriately clothed tourists today. I’ll probably just donate it to them before I leave.”

“You hanging around for a while?”

“Yeah. It’s gorgeous here, and I’ve got
tons
of reading to do. How about you?”

“I will stay until you leave. You know that.”

“Thanks.” I took his hand as he sat down beside me on the bed. “Did you see those paintings?”

“The ones depicting the gruesome persecution of Christians by the Romans? How could I not?”

“They almost made me cry.
Definitely
made my tummy hurt.”

He only gently squeezed my hand via response.

“Did you see how I got here?”

“I wasn’t going to mention it unless you did. Is there a
reason
why an Archangel was escorting you?”

“Paltiel told on me.”

“Told on you for what?”

“For being too friendly with Azazel.”

“How much trouble did you get in?”

“None… I don’t think. I’m not allowed to get blood from the
Bound
One
anymore, though.”

“So, how will you traverse the Nether?”

“Hopefully I won’t have to.” I held up my tattooed hand. “This red ring represents a blood bond I now hold with Uriel. Until my death,
he
will be providing my needed fuel.”

“Then… you’ll still have to deal with Paltiel.”

“Only if Uriel is too busy to escort me where I need to go.”

“Take care around him, Pooh. Archangels are not the most patient lot. They put up with
zero
nonsense.”

“Yeah, I sorta figured that.” I sighed softly. “Yet, he was super sweet to me… gentle, even. Still… he had this
air
about him. Something fearful that tugged deep down in my gut. The Angel didn’t threaten me or anything. Like I said, he was extremely nice. It’s just… I bet he doesn’t give
warnings
.”

“That would be a safe bet, Pooh. Keep things
completely
business-like with Uriel. There is no gray area with
that
Angel. It’s straight black and white—no reasoning, no whining, no coaxing. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Does Azazel know?”

“I don’t see how he could. Not unless Uriel went there and told him, and I just don’t see that happening.”

“Me either.”

“I had just refueled and was heading to Cairo. At least, that’s what I
thought
. Uriel was in the Nether when I got there. Paltiel had summoned him to complain about me. Uriel took over from there—brought me here. I never got the chance to tell Azazel.”

“It’s for the best, Pooh.”

“I know… but I feel like I lied to him. When I left, I promised I’d return. And I’m all but certain Paltiel won’t ever send me back down there, fuel or no.”

“I agree.” Drella wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “I know it hurts a little right now… but I’m glad you won’t be returning to Azazel. I don’t trust him. And even though you can’t see it…
you
shouldn’t trust him either.”

I just sighed and wrapped my arms around the man of my dreams, burying my cheek against his firm chest.

“I bought you another little trinket today,” he whispered.

I sat up. “Trinket? You mean
treasure
.” I giggled. “Are you trying to spoil me, Drell?”

“Every chance I get.” He pulled a little box from inside his cloak. “I bought this while you were picking out that skirt.”

I opened the lid and gasped. “Drella… it’s gorgeous.”

He smiled as he lifted the chain and clasped the enameled tree of life pendant around my neck. “I know this is a silly question for me to ask an overzealous history professor, but you know what this represents, right?”

“Well, that all depends on which culture you ask. The Mayans had a tree of life, as did the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, oh… and those handsome Nordic ancestors of mine.”

“Pooh…”

“The Chinese have a tree of life they call the Immortality Tree. It has a
dragon
at the base of it.”

Drella chuckled when my eyes sparkled as I mentioned
dragon
.

“Kabbalah has a tree of life, and so do the modern-day spiritualists—”

“Pooh.”

I turned to face him.

“This one represents something far older than
all
of those.”

I glanced down at the lovely bluish pendant with the sparkling little tree.

“We are completely surrounded by several monasteries of the Orthodox Church, right?”

I looked at him a moment before my eyes widened with realization. “Ahh… The Garden of Eden.”

He smiled. “The Tree of Life that grew in the center… a shadow of the cross of Christ. The symbol of life… the union of heaven and earth… of spirit and matter.”

“Just like us,” I barely whispered.

He kissed the side of my head and pulled me against him. “Yes, Pooh… just like us.”

*****

For the next five months I bounced from one place to the next. I didn’t have to use the Nether a single time. Uriel came when I whispered his name, and then dropped me off wherever I needed to go. I never even had to stick him with my thumbnail. Traveling with the elegant, golden-haired Archangel doesn’t deplete the fuel in my stone. It yet remains completely red with Azazel’s blood I acquired at our last meeting.

“I love to see a woman lost in thought, especially you. The way your lovely jaw clenches and relaxes as you write… the tiny creases between your brow as you try to think of just the right word.”

I looked up at Drella, smiling and relieved. “It’s so good to see you, Babe. I’ve missed you like crazy. Where have you been hiding?”

“Not hiding, Pooh—busy.”

“Busy? For six whole weeks? What item is causing you
that
much trouble?”

“It’s not a particular item that’s had me rushing from this place to that. There’s something strange going on around Oharaimachi.”

“Strange? Like how?”

“An
Other
Realm is partially settling over that area not too far from that portal bridge I took you to.”

“An
Other
Realm?”

“I’m not really supposed to talk to you about stuff like that.” He took a quick glance around. “There are different realms and layers to this universe. It’s nothing for you to worry about, nothing that’s cause for concern. That’s just the way it is. No layer or realm knows or interferes with the other, so the whole thing is of no consequence really.”

“…Until now.”

“Well, I’m just not sure. You see, people aren’t even acting like there’s anything strange or different going on. Apparently, they either haven’t noticed the Otherworldly inhabitants, or they can’t see them.”

“So… what’s the problem then?”

“The people of Earth may not be able to see
them
… but the people of Gokula can definitely see you guys.”

“Are they hostile?”

“Not as a rule, no. The powers that be are a bit concerned, though. If the people of Gokula begin to interact with the people of Earth—even though you guys don’t see or realize it—serious problems
could
arise.”

“Problems for whom? Us? Earthlings?”

“I hope not. No, I was speaking of problems for the Angels… and the Guardians.”

“…Oh.”

“Anyway, nothing for you to worry your pretty little head over.” He looked then to my journal. “What were you writing? You seemed completely lost in thought.”

“I was.” I glanced down at the dark ink scratched across the honey-beige pages. “I’m keeping a meticulous journal concerning my
adventures
.”

Drella smiled. “Is it an epic?”

“You know it is.”

“Am I in it?”

“The main hero—my Knight in Shining Armor.”

He quickly kissed my cheek. “I love you too much, Pooh.”

“Yes, I fear we have been stricken with the same illness.”

“Lovesickness?”

I chuckled. “As good a diagnosis as I’ve ever heard.”

“Are you gonna be in Norway for a while?”

“Several days, yeah.”

“I don’t know if I can stay
that
long, but I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Have you gotten a room yet?”

“Yep.”

“Eaten dinner?”

“Nope.”

“Dinner it is then. What would you like?”

“Can you get cheeseburgers in Norway?”

He smiled with only one corner of his mouth. “I’m not sure. Let’s go see.”

*****

“I’m full as a tick.”

Drella chuckled softly and kissed the side of my head. “You’re beautiful as a butterfly.”

“You’re prejudiced in my regard.”

“Sure am.” He kissed me again. “I don’t like it when I look at this.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my finger. “It makes me queasy and uncomfortable every time I notice it.”

“What? My tattoo?”

“Yeah. I don’t like seeing another man’s ring on your finger. Even if it isn’t a real ring…
or
a real man.”